Switzerland, Dec. 28: History is being created inside a hangar here that will radically change the way an aircraft flies.The prototype of an aircraft, to be propelled entirely by solar power even at night, has already been successfully tested for a ‘flea hop’ or a short flight at this airbase.

Scientists and engineers are working full-steam to fly the aircraft around the world for 36 hours through day and night in the spring or summer of 2010, Mr Bertrand Piccard, the driving force behind the Solar Impulse project and its test pilot, said. “What is being done is not a revolution. We try and open a new path and see what happens. We do not claim that commercial aviation will run on solar energy in the next couple of years. Solar Impulse an attempt to show what can be achieved by renewable energies.”

The difference between this aircraft and similar ones developed earlier is that this is being developed to fly at night, Mr Piccard, who created a record by being the first to fly around the world in a hot-air balloon, said.

Indian engineers and students have also shown a keen interest in being part of this historic feat but are yet to become part of the 70-member team which is working on making the project a reality, Mr Phil Mundweller, who heads the project’s external communications wing, said.

“We receive a few letters every month from Indian students and engineers working on solar or renewable energies. There has been growing interest since we visited Delhi and Jaipur earlier this year,” Mr Mundwellar said. —